Atlanta Braves reliever Craig Kimbrel.

Atlanta Braves closer Craig Kimbrel was almost unhittable in 2012. He has bigger plans this season.

He got off to a great start Monday with a hole-in-one at the tough ChampionsGate Golf Club. Kimbrel lost sight of the ball on the 180-yard second hole and figured it fell into a bunker. He looked everywhere except the hole.

"I couldn't believe it," Kimbrel said. "I think it went in on the fly. It was my first one."

Kimbrel got a break after the round when he was made aware that it was up to anyone shooting an ace to buy a round of drinks for everyone."

"It was a charity event," Kimbrel laughed. "There was an open bar. I paid for it all."

Kimbrel had a terrific 2012 season, striking out more than half of the batters he faced during the regular season. No one had ever done that in baseball history.

It was a nice follow-up to Kimbrel's 2011 performance, when he was National League Rookie of the Year. He pitched in 79 games that season, posting 46 saves, and last season had 53 saves in 63 games with a 1.01 earned run average.

"I could have done more last season and I feel great now," Kimbrel said.